Radula marginata
| Radula marginata | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Division: | Marchantiophyta |
| Class: | Jungermanniopsida |
| Order: | Jungermanniales |
| Family: | Radulaceae |
| Genus: | Radula |
| Species: | R. marginata |
| Binomial name | |
| Radula marginata Taylor | |
Radula marginata (Wairuakohu) is a species of plant in genus Radula, a genus of liverworts. It is native to New Zealand and Tasmania.[1][2] It has been found to contain cannabinoids.[3]
Cannabinoids
Users smoking the plant have experienced barely-discernible to absent effects.[4] The cannabinoid is not THC, the main psychoactive chemical in cannabis, but it is of similar molecular structure.[3] The liverwort contains perrottetinene and perrottetinenic acid.[3] The quantity of cannabinoid present is much less than in cannabis.
Legal status
The liverwort grows as a common weed. Owning, growing and distributing the liverwort is legal.
Radula marginata has a long history of traditional use as a rongoā (Māori herbal medicine),[5] and is a taonga of the Māori people of New Zealand, so any attempt to prohibit its use would be a breach of the Treaty of Waitangi .
References
- ↑ http://www.discoverlife.org/mp/20l?id=GBIF2550163
- ↑ http://www.discoverlife.org/mp/20l?id=GBIF2550057
- 1 2 3 Toyota, M., et al. (2002). New bibenzyl cannabinoid from the New Zealand liverwort Radula marginata. Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo). 50(10) 1390.
- ↑ http://www.tripme.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=1943
- ↑ NZ's Drug History...From Zero. Stuff.co.nz, republished from Radio New Zealand, 7 November 2016